Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro praised his team’s improvement following the world champions’ 2-0 victory over Bulgaria that virtually assures them a place at next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Goals from Juventus pair Fabio Grosso and Vincenzo Iaquinta put Bulgaria to the sword and ended a run of four matches without an azzurri player finding the net.
It means that with two group eight matches remaining, Italy need only to draw away to nearest rivals Republic of Ireland or beat minnows Cyprus at home to qualify.
But perhaps as important as the three points was the manner of Italy’s victory, constructing two excellent goals with swift, slick passing and holding out in the face of Bulgaria’s second-half fight-back.
“This is a great step forward,” said Cannavaro, one of seven Juventus players in the starting line-up.
“It was important to win and play well, to recapture the feeling of being a team and we did that, especially in the first half when we played good football.
“Then we managed the second half, I think we did really well. We became world champions because we have something about us.
“For the last three years people have said we’re past it and we have to change everything.
“However, we’ve proved that if we stay compact and play as a team, we are able to match anyone.”
Nine of the first 11 were part of the World Cup squad that returned home from Germany with the trophy.
Iaquinta’s second-half goal, following a pair of one-twos with strike-partner Alberto Gilardino, ended a frustrating goal draught for the country’s front-men.
They had not scored in four matches, dating back to June’s Confederations Cup in which they exited at the group stages after losing to Egypt and Brazil.
“I’m happy about the goal but most of all about the way we played. In the first half we did really well while although our level dropped in the second, that’s normal,” said Iaquinta, who insisted Italy would try to secure qualification as soon as possible.
“We’re happy with this victory and now we’ll try to win in Ireland. We’ve turned a page since the Confederations Cup.”
